I was very surprised at every turn:
2016 election night I went to bed early not being happy with either candidate, but figured the American people had enough sense to bite the bullet and elect Hillary. No.
Upon reflection, I considered the 2016 campaign a fluke: inevitable turn to R after 8 years of D, Unenthusiastic democrats, last minute Comey thing, maybe a few votes from Russian influence, very close margin, D win of popular vote etc. It was not.
The Trump insanity started from Day 1 in office, but I figured at some point along the way there would push back from the R side. there was not.
I looked to the 2018 midterms as an opportunity for repudiation of the Trump game plan and while the house changed hands to stop the bleeding, it was far from the blue wave advertised.
As the pandemic hit, there was a chance to have the unified federal response required and a opportunity to handle an exterior threat in somber and mature manner. Nope.
2020 election showed that despite everything, Trump was within 60,000 votes or so (if in the right places) from winning.
At numerous junctions, individuals, organizations, the general public, and parties had the opportunity to neuter this era and we did not. I wake each day wondering how I will be surprised again by some new low or new inaction.